EACA Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Call to Order / Recording Start: 7:00pm. Approval of June 9, 2026 Meeting Minutes – Approved. Approval of June 2026 Treasurer Report – Approved. Elected Officials’ Reports Council Member Bakhtiari’s Office: Not present; however, they sent slides with the following updates: Displacement remains a top concern of Councilmember Bakhtiari’s because District 5 has witnessed its…
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GPNA Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Time: 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. Location: Oakland Visitor Center (2nd Floor) / Zoom. Call to Order and Welcome: President Robert Selby called the meeting to order at approximately 7:35 p.m. He thanked the Oakland Visitor Center for hosting and provided an overview of GPNA membership and voting eligibility (attendance at one prior meeting required…
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Why Heirloom Tomatoes Taste Better

By Sydney Sevdalis There is a moment in summer when a tomato stops being an ingredient and becomes the whole meal. It is warm from the garden and perhaps a little misshapen. Its delicate skin splits easily, and its colors may be anything but uniform, but add a little salt, and the whole tomato comes…
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What We Save When We Save Seeds

By Sydney Sevdalis At the end of the growing season, a gardener faces a small but consequential choice. We can eat the last perfect tomato, or we can pause. We can scoop out its seeds, clean and dry them, tuck them into a paper envelope and write the variety and year across the front. It…
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Where Housing and Harvest Meet

By Sydney Sevdalis For nearly two decades, seven acres along Locust Lane in Southeast Atlanta sat empty. The land was once part of the Leila Valley public housing community. After the apartments were demolished in 2008, the property remained unused, a familiar sight in neighborhoods where disinvestment has left land waiting years for a new…
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A Roof Over Your Head: Help St. Paul Continue Its Legacy of Serving Thousands of Neighbors

By Rebecca Wallace For years, St Paul United Methodist Church has worked to be a good neighbor to local residents, community organizations, and businesses. From offering children and youth activities and sharing meeting spaces to hosting Halloween hospitality and the Candlelight Tour of Homes, the church has supported countless people and organizations over the years.…
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Recent Burglary Incidents

By the Grant Park Security Patrol Since the COVID-19 pandemic, burglaries in the neighborhood have been very low. Unfortunately in the past four weeks, there has been a cluster of daytime burglaries in the southwest corner of Grant Park. Houses on Woodson Street, Hill Street, Bass Street, and Augusta Avenue have been targeted. There might…
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Update in Rental Costs

By Paul Bolster Given the neighborhood discussion of the future of Trestletree Village Apartments, it is important to keep in mind the cost of rental housing in our neighborhood. It takes a good income to rent apartments in the Porch Press area. The recent annual report from the Low Income Housing Coalition says it takes an hourly…
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Vultures

By Jeremy Varner On a rainy Monday this past spring, I was driving my son to school when we were delayed behind a garbage truck. We started talking about garbage collectors and waste management. Given how hard the garbage men work outside all day in the rain or heat, he thought they should earn $100,000/year.…
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We Cannot Let Another Generation Think Distracted Driving Is Normal

By Sarah Standifird My life changed forever the day I lost my son Andrew. And the saddest part? His death was preventable. Yet, like so many families who have experienced the same loss I was left asking myself how something so devastating could happen because of one momentary decision behind the wheel. Parents should not…
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GPNA Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time: 7:33 p.m. – 8:55 p.m. Location: In-person at the Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center (2nd floor) and virtual via Zoom. Call to Order and Welcome: President Robert Selby called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. and thanked the Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center for hosting the association in their new facility. Members were reminded of the requirement to attend…
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Peak Blueberry Season in Georgia

By Sydney Sevdalis Blueberries are actually a fascinating Georgia story because their season unfolds in waves. The very first Georgia blueberries arrive in late March and April in the southern part of the state. Those are typically Southern Highbush varieties, bred to ripen early so Georgia can be one of the first states to bring…
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Joyful Dinner Shows What Community Can Grow Together

By Sydney Sevdalis On the evening of the summer solstice, 60 guests gathered at Little Bear for an unforgettable celebration of Georgia’s food traditions, local agriculture, and the people who make both possible. Hosted by Slow Food Atlanta as a fundraiser for Slow Food USA, the sold-out dinner featured an extraordinary four-course menu created by…
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Chimney Swifts: All Gas, No Brakes

By Jeremy Varner Chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are small, fast birds who spend most of their life cruising the sky. When I see them, they are typically up about tree-top level and zooming around while they eat all sorts of bugs. Actually, I generally hear them before I see them. Their normal call is a…
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I, Too

I, too, sing America I am the stranger From a distant shore. Scrutinized for diseases They give me work others will not do, Carving horse flesh for dog food, Hunching over tables of fabric With hot irons. But Shared stories of The old country feed us, And we grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll teach your children…
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Background of the Intrenchment Creek Park Land Swap

By Joel Feingold The swap pertains to land in DeKalb County’s Commission District 3 that was donated to DeKalb County in 2003 via a Limited Warranty Deed from the Trust for Public Land (TPL). This land near the South River and the new Police Training Facility south of East Atlanta was given to TPL by…
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Posts published in “Rocking Chair Reflections”

Update in Rental Costs

By Paul Bolster on August 18, 2026

By Paul Bolster Given the neighborhood discussion of the future of Trestletree Village Apartments, it is important to keep in mind the cost of rental…

Vultures

Vultures

By Jeremy Varner on August 18, 2026

By Jeremy Varner On a rainy Monday this past spring, I was driving my son to school when we were delayed behind a garbage truck.…

We Cannot Let Another Generation Think Distracted Driving Is Normal

We Cannot Let Another Generation Think Distracted Driving Is Normal

By Sarah Standifird on August 18, 2026

By Sarah Standifird My life changed forever the day I lost my son Andrew. And the saddest part? His death was preventable. Yet, like so…

I, Too

I, Too

By Livija Marta Rieksts on July 26, 2026

I, too, sing America I am the stranger From a distant shore. Scrutinized for diseases They give me work others will not do, Carving horse…

Background of the Intrenchment Creek Park Land Swap

Background of the Intrenchment Creek Park Land Swap

By Joel Feingold on July 26, 2026

By Joel Feingold The swap pertains to land in DeKalb County’s Commission District 3 that was donated to DeKalb County in 2003 via a Limited…

New Production Manager Needed

New Production Manager Needed

By Henry Bryant on July 26, 2026

By Henry Bryant After helping to found this newspaper and serving in various capacities over the 40 years of covering the comings and goings of…

Best of Enemies Uses East Atlanta Location

Best of Enemies Uses East Atlanta Location

By Henry Bryant on July 4, 2026

By Henry Bryant This 2019 release is now available on Netflix. It tells a story similar to ones that happened locally, The Best of Enemies tells the…

Public Lands Are Homes for Animal Friends

By Jeremy Varner on July 4, 2026

By Jeremy Varner I made friends with a great blue heron while fishing on a Florida beach during Spring Break. It wasn’t the most meaningful…

Reopen Our Beloved Intrenchment Creek Park

Reopen Our Beloved Intrenchment Creek Park

By Margaret Spalding on May 16, 2026

To DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson On February 2, Superior Court Judge Stacey Hydrick issued a mediation order in the case concerning the land swap…

Gray Squirrels

Gray Squirrels

By Jeremy Varner on April 17, 2026

By Jeremy Varner What color are squirrels? Atlantans will say gray since just about the only squirrels you see are Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis).…